U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and David Vitter (R-LA), chairman of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, cheered the committee's approval last week of a bill that would help small businesses owned by veterans.

Health Care Service Corp. (HCSC) said President and CEO Pat Hemmingway will be retiring at the end of the year. HCSC's Board of Directors selected Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Paula Steiner to take on the role of president.

TLC Ingredients Inc. officials said today it gave Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) a tour of its facility to show him the value and safety of chemical distribution companies that participate in programs like the National Association of Chemical Distributors.

The Cheesecake Factory was among five companies that received a Circle of Excellence Award this year from the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) for creatively using incentive campaigns to achieve successful results.

The Illinois Network of Child Care Resources and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) announced Friday that Dan Harris has been appointed to serve as its executive director. Harris has served in both the private and public sectors and most recently was assistant director for the Division of Family and Community Services within the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Ryerson Holding Corp. announced on Friday that Court Carruthers has been appointed to its board of directors.Prior to joining Ryerson, Carruthers was group president of W.W. Grainger, Inc.'s Americas region.